Merry Christmas!

Our Littlest Rascal

Otay!

After alot of begging from the girls...

...we finally put up the tree and did some decorating. I love Christmas decorations, but hate putting them up. Call it lazy 'cuz that's basically what I am. Besides, I wasn't thrilled about hauling my pregnant self into the attic. Thanks especially to Nettie for help with the tree. (Can I hire you every year??) Now we get to deal with Sarah redecorating several times a day till sometime mid January.(You think I'm any less lazy about taking decorations down?)

It's a Boy!

Shocking isn't it? We didn't think it was possible, and now I'm wondering if I'm really ready for this change. Doh! The girls are absolutely excited for a boy. Let's hope they feel the same way after he's mobile. ;)

Here's the first picture (and possibly the only one I'll post cuz i'm so dang lazy) of my growing belly. Kate was the photographer. :)

Fun with Rocks (and getting through tight spots)

I'm a regular Dr. Seuss. I'm also much to lazy to write a good blog entry about our October jaunt to Moab. These will have to do...for now.

Is there anyone we haven't told?

Well if there is anyone who doesn't know, we are expecting baby #4 near the end of April. I swear we were just announcing our first! If you didn't know, it's only because I'm much too lazy/tired/sick to tell everyone personally. (Plus I'm sure most of you have lost count and figured I had 4 already.) I think it's more exciting each time because I feel like we may have learned one or two things about raising kids. Here's to one more little "educator"!

Halloween

Decorating pumpkins

Decorating herself

Making sure every bit of guts and seeds are scooped out

Jack o' Lantern by Kate (with only a small bit of help from mom)

Jack of Lanterns by Justin and Kate (the bottom one is a cannibal...or whatever a pumpkin eating pumpkin is)

Ready to go, but there's a bunny missing...

the littlest bunny won't hold still

Finally ready to go

The two brave ones knocked on the doors...

...while the timid toddler watched from the yard

Posing for Preschool Pics

Bekah started preschool last week and was a great little poser for mom's first day shots. Now if only mom had skills with the camera.

Or could even take a freakin' shot without the doorknob.

I love those blue eyes. I wish I could show just how blue they are, but that would involve some talent, so you'll just have to believe me.

Sarah's Stats

It's Sarah's turn to be the subject of a post. I gotta make sure I rotate through them regularly right? So anyway, she had her 18 month appointment a few weeks back. She's freakin' tiny still and I don't understand it. Ah well, at least she won't add to my back problems. Here's her stats...
Height=31 inches (25th percentile)
Weight= 20lbs 8 oz. (5th percentile)
Cuteness= off the charts! (cheesy, I know)

Sarah (18 mos) and her friend Eddy (almost 8 mos)

First Grader

Kate started first grade this week. She was so excited to go because she's been waiting for SO LONG to eat lunch at school, and get 3 whole recesses. P.E. is her favorite "subject" so far, and she likes math. Who is this kid?? Oh wait, sounds like Justin. Thank heavens for his genes! ;)

Mean Mom made her stand in the bright morning sun for a picture...

For Kara

I am so very very lazy and didn't want to redo that "about him" tag. You should feel VERY special I linked it for you. ;) (Sorry about the jumbled post, Windows Live kinda stinks)

http://phippenphamily.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!57278BD442EC53AE!1003.entry

Fishing

Kate and Bekah went on a camping trip with their Dad, uncle Sam, cousin Garrett and Grandpa John for 4 days last week. From what I hear, they had a blast, and I enjoyed the peace and quiet with only one child around. (Plus I went out two nights in row, frickin' sweet!) They hiked and spent alot of time fishing. Justin even remembered to take pictures!

Bekah caught her first fish ever

Kate's a pro

Grandpa John and Justin

He passed!

In May, Justin started studying for the General Securities Representative Exam (called the Series 7). Each day he had a certain amount of reading and testing to do for each step of the program. He would come home for work and then hide downstairs(away from the noise and chaos) till midnight or later. We all missed seeing him, and I counted down the SECONDS until he would be finished with the course. He took the 6 hour Series 7 exam in July, and passed with points to spare! (He was worried he'd pass by only a point or two.) That was almost the longest 2. 5 months of our lives. After all, he had to pass the test to keep his job! Oye. I am proud of Justin and very thankful it wasn't me taking that test. :) Now life can get back to the same ol' stress(and Justin can do the dishes again.) Woooweee!!

Miss Bekah is four!

Costco makes the best cakes

One of her favorites

Party girls

Mud flinging..

(not to be confused with mudslinging) is highly enjoyed by all in the Phippen household. We found lots of mud, dirt, and water to "fling" during our last two trips in southern utah. We spent Memorial Day weekend in the Moab area, and a couple weeks later spent 5 days in the Dark Canyon Wilderness area (south of moab in the LaSal Mountains). Here's proof that your never too old to play in dirt and puddles.

The Strong Baby Classic

Event #1 - The Bekah Push

Event # 2 - The Kate Push

What really happens during family get togethers

This is Bekah BEFORE she stopped listening to mom...

and this is her after she ignored SEVERAL warnings to not lean so far over the fountains on Temple Square...

I'd like to apologize to anyone who happened to see MY reaction. Let's just say I'm not very sympathetic when I've been ignored... :}

Visitors from Seattle

My sister and her family were in town the first part of May. We ate, talked, played and ate. Oh and talked some more. We had alot to talk about, we haven't seen them for almost 2 1/2 years! Kate and Bekah finally got to play with the much talked about Anna and "Snowphia". Now if we can just convince Rachel and Chris to move to Utah....

Aunt Nettie started it...so they all had to try splashing in the reflection pool. Thanks Aunt Nettie...;)

Posing with the cousins on temple square

Sarah's not very willing to share her kitty

sweet baby Clara

the Dahl girls love the Lion House

Sarah likes the food too...

8 years ago...

...we were married in the Bountiful temple. Yikes. Wow. Crazy. Last night, to celebrate the occasion we asked Nettie to watch the kids, and ...went to a movie! In the theater! What an incredibly special way to celebrate our anniversary! Oy. Ok, I know this post is just dripping with sarcastic bitterness, but it's mostly because I'm incredibly cranky. Shouldn't my 15th month old be aware that this is a day for happiness and joy?? I only ask for one day out out of 365, is that too much to ask? Right, I know, it is too much to ask when you have kids. Doh. Poor Sarah is teething and was up several times last night. Hence my crankiness. I have to remind myself that EVENTUALLY I will get a straight 8 hrs of sleep and a nice anniversary celebration. It might not be till our 30th, but SOME DAY it'll happen. In the meantime, I'm glad I'm able to have an "irritable" anniversary with someone as understanding, fun and HOT as Justin. I truly enjoy just hanging out with him, and that's something to be said after 8 yrs of marriage! ;)


Awww shucks, I love him!

Happy 6th Birthday Kate!

Kate turned 6 on April 18th! As soon I find more than 3 seconds of free time, I'll post pictures from her party. I can't believe she's already 6! We love our beautiful, kind, helpful and smart Kathryn! Who wouldn't?? ;)

Sarah Singing...

This is freakin' adorable! Sarah loves Tom Petty...especially Free Fallin'. Check it out..

Job Update

Ok, so a few people have asked, and this might be the easiest way to put the news out there. Anyway, Justin found a job! It was a position at Fidelity that wasn't even listed internally, but they were still interviewing for it. There were 2 positions for 20+ applicants, and Justin snagged one of 'em. :) Soo glad to be done stressing over whether to stay or sell and find a job elsewhere.

If you didn't know the background to why he had to find a new job...here it is. In February his divison announced they were moving them to Texas. Moving to Texas is clearly NOT an option for us, so he had until this July to find a new job within Fidelity or take the severance. I kinda liked the severance idea, but this is a great position with Fidelity's awesome benefits. So we are here to stay...hip hip hooray! (Now I'm sure you wish we'd leave...)

In the words of Bekah...

Justin just called to tell me this. They are driving to pick up some car parts and Bekah is making up songs (as usual).

Bekah-"My legs are so skinnyyy, yes and kate's are so skiinyy tooo...but not mom and dad's cuz their's are sooo big. "

Gee, guess maybe we need to workout? ;)


(Thanks for letting me steal your blog post idea Natalie! Andrew and Bekah can be pretty similiar!)

Easter 2008

Easter was loads o fun', food, and finding (eggs). I would write something a little more descriptive, but it's almost 3am...as usual. Too much to do, sleep wastes time...

Anyway, a few pics from our Easter doings...